A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by
adding thereto a new section, designated §61-5-17a, relating
to making it a criminal offense for any person to
intentionally interfere with or prevent an individual from
calling for the assistance of emergency service personnel;
defining terms; and establishing penalties.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended
by adding thereto a new section, designated §61-5-17a, to read as
follows:

ARTICLE 5. CRIMES AGAINST PUBLIC JUSTICE.

§61-5-17a. Willful interference with a call for emergency
services.

(a) Any person, with the intent to deprive any other person of
emergency services, who interferes with or prevents another person
from:(1) Using or accessing a 911 emergency telephone system;
(2)Making a report to a law-enforcement officer or agency or fire
department; or(3)Requesting emergency medical assistance shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be confined in
jail for not more than six months, or fined not less than $100 nor
more than $500, or both.

(b) As used in this section, to “interfere with or prevent”
includes, but is not limited to, the seizure, concealment,
obstructing access to or disabling or disconnection of a telephone,
telephone line or equipment or other communication device.